Shaping the Future of West Virginia

Silver Ring Thing comes to West

 Virginia

 What is the Silver Ring Thing (SRT)? The answer will depend on the person asking the question.  To parents and concerned adults, SRT is an abstinence education program designed for teens and pre-teens that combines the social and medical reasons for choosing abstinence with the Biblical basis and benefits.   When describing SRT to a teen, the explanation sounds like this, “It’s about guys, girls, dating, love, second chances, and the right choices.”  

The show is put on by a group of young adults who are based in Pittsburgh, and travel the country sharing a message that can change a young person’s life forever. As they describe it, “The Silver Ring is worn as a symbol and reminder of the abstinence pledge. The "Thing" in Silver Ring is the high-tech presentation that makes this program uniquely attractive. By featuring awesome lighting and video systems, hilarious skits, concert sound systems, high-energy music, TV's, computers, and a faith-based abstinence message, students become interested in the message being offered to them about their sex lives.”

The SRT presentation has been brought to the St. Albans / Charleston area three times in 2003 and 2004.  It has been hosted, in St. Albans, at Maranatha Fellowship and Kings River Worship Center, and at Capitol High School.  In those three events over 650 decided to put on the ring and over 115 said they were putting Christ first in their lives.  Secular research suggests that making a pledge of abstinence delays for 18 months a young person’s sexual activity.  By combining the hope of the gospel with the abstinence message that time can be extended, but it is important to keep it in front of our teens and their classmates.

 The statistics are frightening!  Take a look at some numbers that came in an email from a state worker:

*        The 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey results showed 52.5 % of high school teenage students have engaged in sexual intercourse.

*        West Virginia is leading the nation in cases of gonorrhea in those between the ages of 15-24. 

*        National statistics show more than 50% of adolescents have a sexually transmitted disease. 

*        Although our teen pregnancy rate is decreasing, we are now at the national average of approximately 49.2 pregnancies per 1,000 females aged 15-19 years old. 

*        From 2004 through 2005, West Virginia had a 50% increase in pregnancy rates for 11-14 year olds. 

*        Along with risky behaviors like alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, comes increased incidences of sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS.

Believe in West Virginia, a faith-based non-profit organization (www.beilieveinwv.org), along with area churches are working to bring the Silver Ring Thing back to West Virginia.  Area Youth Pastors have been meeting together for several months to plan the events for their cities.  As the event approaches we are still looking for churches who would like to be involved in the event, and for businesses to help underwrite the cost.  In addition to Charleston and Huntington, BiWV wants to bring SRT to other parts of the state.  If you want SRT in your area, or if you would like to help reach our teens, with the important message of abstinence and to show them God’s love at the same time,  please contact, John deBlecourt, Executive Director of Believe in West Virginia, at john@believeinwv.org or by phone at (304) 552-7601.